It is important to begin by stating that I heavily condemn the murder of Charlie Kirk and political violence as a whole. However, as a current student at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida, I am deeply concerned about the proposal to rename Chieftan Way to Charlie James Kirk Road. State Rep. Kevin Steele, R-Dade City, filed bill HB 113 which threatens all Florida public colleges to rename a street to honor Charlie Kirk or lose funding. Earlier this year, an individual who was a supporter of Charlie Kirk shot multiple students and faculty at our Student Union, causing immense pain and trauma within our community. Naming a street in honor of Charlie Kirk would not only disregard the feelings of those affected but also inaccurately represent his contributions to our institution.

Charlie Kirk, while a prominent and sometimes controversial figure, has no direct association with Florida State University, his only impact to our community was coming to our campus to convince us we are being scammed for pursuing a higher education. His legacy, which may hold significance to some, does not have anything to do with FSU. This street is a part of our campus, our home, and if anyone were to get a street named after them it should be someone who has positively impacted our university and its community.

 Although it is tragic that Charlie Kirk passed away, it is borderline insensitive to everyone who was affected by the tragedy earlier this year. There are other universities that would honor him properly, such as Utah Valley University or Harper College, the university where he passed or the college he attended.

It’s essential for Florida to prioritize the comfort and well-being of its students, alumni, and faculty when making such a significant decision. Our community deserves a say in matters that affect us directly, and holding onto Chieftain Way means respecting the victims that were affected by someone guided by Charlie Kirk's teachings.

Let us urge the officials voting for this bill (HB 113) to reconsider this decision, ensuring that our campus remains a sanctuary of learning and growth, free from associations that could hinder its healing.

Please join me in taking a stand to protect our university from Kevin Steele trying to push his political agenda onto our schools by threatening the removal of funding. Sign this petition, share it, and call our representatives to keep Chieftan Way as it is.